If you are planning to travel from Petersburg to Richmond, expect a straightforward journey covering 115.8 miles. While this trip typically takes about 2 hours and 29 minutes, it is easily manageable as a single-day excursion. You should budget approximately $19 for fuel to complete the transit between these two Southeast Virginia hubs. The route relies heavily on major thoroughfares, including US 17, the James Madison Highway, and I-66. Since the duration is relatively short, you can comfortably complete the drive without needing an overnight stay, making it a convenient option for your itinerary.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
57.9 miles from Petersburg, VA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 21m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 17
82.2 mi
1h 41m
James Madison Highway
11.6 mi
16m
I 66
9.4 mi
10m
Eastern Bypass
4.9 mi
6m
John Marshall Highway
3 mi
5m
Winchester Road
2.4 mi
3m
Hermitage Road
1.1 mi
2m
North Meadow Street
0.2 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
US 17
— 82.2 mi, about 1h 41m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Petersburg, VA and Richmond, VA.
1
Start on VA 55
3.0 mi·5 min·John Marshall Highway
2
Turn left onto SR 688
240 ft·6 sec·Leeds Manor Road
3
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·26 sec
Toward Washington
4
Merge onto I 66
9.4 mi·10 min·I 66
5
Take the exit onto US 17
0.3 mi·32 sec·US 17
Toward US 17: Warrenton, Fredericksburg
6
Keep slight right at fork onto US 17
0.1 mi·13 sec·US 17
7
Merge onto US 17
2.4 mi·3 min·Winchester Road
8
Continue on US 17
6.5 mi·8 min·James Madison Highway
9
Keep slight right at fork onto US 17
4.9 mi·6 min·Eastern Bypass
Toward US 17 South: FredericksburgUse the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Continue on US 15; US 17; US 29
5.1 mi·7 min·James Madison Highway
11
Keep slight right at fork onto US 17
27 mi·39 min·US 17
Toward US 17 South
12
Take the exit onto US 17
55 mi·1 hr 1 min·US 17
Toward I 95 South, US 17 South: RichmondUse the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Take the exit
0.2 mi·40 sec
Exit 78Toward VA 161: Arthur Ashe BoulevardUse the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Turn right onto VA 161
0.2 mi·28 sec·North Arthur Ashe Boulevard
15
Turn left onto Robin Hood Road
0.2 mi·30 sec·Robin Hood Road
16
Turn right onto Hermitage Road
1.1 mi·2 min·Hermitage Road
17
Continue on North Meadow Street
0.2 mi·34 sec·North Meadow Street
18
Turn left onto Monument Avenue
0.1 mi·26 sec·Monument Avenue
19
Enter roundabout onto Marcus-David Peters Circle
81 ft·2 sec·Marcus-David Peters Circle
20
Arrive at destination
Marcus-David Peters Circle
Trip Plan
Since this is a compact drive, you have the flexibility to depart whenever suits your schedule best. You will not need to plan for intermediate stops given the 2 hour and 29 minute total transit time, though keeping a $19 fuel budget in mind remains a smart practice. Pay close attention to your navigation when transitioning between US 17 and the James Madison Highway to ensure you maintain your momentum. Because this route lacks mandatory stops, use the time saved to arrive at your destination in Richmond refreshed. Prioritize checking local traffic reports before you leave to ensure the highway segments are flowing smoothly.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 57.9 miles from Petersburg, VA, or about 1h 21m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 82.2 miles.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 25 miles or 33m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 57.9 miles or 1h 21m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 2m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Richmond, VA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Petersburg, VA so your first major turns are already loaded.
+
Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.
+
Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Petersburg, VA
This is one driving day of about 115.8 miles and 2h 29m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 25 miles from Petersburg, VA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on US 17 for about 82.2 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 15
5 decision points cluster between mile 3.1 and 113.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
3.1 mi into trip|~5m in
Take the ramp toward Washington
Navigation decision point
Toward Washington
5
12.7 mi into trip|~16m in|US 17
Take the exit onto US 17 toward US 17: Warrenton, Fredericksburg
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 17: Warrenton, Fredericksburg
7
21.9 mi into trip|~28m in|US 17 / Eastern Bypass
Keep slight right at fork onto US 17 / Eastern Bypass toward US 17 South: Fredericksburg
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward US 17 South: Fredericksburg
7
58.7 mi into trip|~1h 22m in|US 17
Take the exit onto US 17 toward I 95 South, US 17 South: Richmond
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 95 South, US 17 South: Richmond
7
113.8 mi into trip|~2h 24m in
Take the exit toward VA 161: Arthur Ashe Boulevard
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 78
Toward VA 161: Arthur Ashe Boulevard
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$18.11 one way
$36.22 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg41 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.34
$19.80
$39.60
premium
$4.70
$21.43
$42.86
diesel
$5.61
$25.57
$51.13
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$18
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$43–$68
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 40.5 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $12 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
34.7
0
$12.16
$5.56
Efficient EV
29
0
$10.13
$4.63
EV Truck/SUV
46.3
0
$16.21
$7.41
Gas CO2
41 kg
EV CO2
14 kg (66% less)
This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.
DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Petersburg, VA
Morning
in Petersburg on Sunday
Local time
10:27 AM
EDT
Current temp
48°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Richmond, VA
Morning
in Richmond on Sunday
Local time
10:27 AM
EDT
Current temp
72°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
83°F
Bristow, VA
58 mi in
Seasonal Notes
Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.
Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.
Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.
Time zone
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
24 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
2h 29m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Cedar Creek & Belle Grove National Historical Park
National Historical Park
Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley has a long and rich heritage that still inspires today. Native Americans first shaped the land, followed by colonists and settlers. The fertile valley became an important...
Two hundred ninety-two days, eight offensives, over 70,000 casualties, U. S. Colored Troops, and the decline of Gen. Lee's Army of Northern Virginia all describe the Siege of Petersburg. U.S. forces c...
25 mi from route
~63 min detour
Free
near mile 115.8
The Potomac River corridor is rich in both history and recreation, offering a chance to both explore your heritage and choose your adventure along the way. Start your journey here!
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This trip is a highway-focused drive, with 79% of your time spent on high-speed roads. You will find yourself navigating a significant 82.2-mile stretch on US 17, which serves as the longest uninterrupted portion of the journey. The experience is characterized by efficiency, as the route prioritizes major arteries over local side roads. Expect a consistent pace behind the wheel once you settle onto the highway sections. Because the drive is dominated by these primary roads, you can anticipate a predictable, steady flow of traffic throughout the duration of your trip.
79% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
20 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 82.2 mi on US 17.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 17 and James Madison Highway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 3.1 miles in.
Driving Effort9/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 15 significant decision points across 115.8 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 3.1 miles: Navigation decision point; at 12.7 miles (US 17): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 21.9 miles (US 17 / Eastern Bypass): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
791 ft111 ft
Total Climb
308 ft
Total Descent
887 ft
Highest Point
791 ft
Elevation Range
680 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Petersburg, VA to Richmond, VA, road signs begin pointing toward Fredericksburg along the way.
Fredericksburg
12.7 mi in|~16m|via US 17
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 29m. Total distance: 115.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 29m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (79%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 82.2 miles on US 17. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 1 rest area or service plaza within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Richmond, VA before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. There are 1 rest area along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 3.1 miles: Navigation decision point; at 12.7 miles (US 17): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 21.9 miles (US 17 / Eastern Bypass): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Cedar Creek & Belle Grove National Historical Park, Petersburg National Battlefield and Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Richmond, VA before heading back.
